was the first to recognize and appreciate his dynamic qualities.
Anthony Bull's outstanding good looks, his charm of manner, and his almost theatrical delivery of his sermons, had won the hearts of all who met him. It was not surprising that Bertha Lovelock had felt such burning affection for him. She was only one of many in his congregation to whom he had brought colour and comfort.
It was also quite logical that she should wish to repay the inspiration he had given her, and to do it through the church she had always attended rather than as a direct bequest to the man himself, showed a certain delicacy of feeling, and a sense of propriety quite consistent with the attitude of the Lovelocks.
But Charles hoped sincerely that nothing would come of Bertha's alarming plans. Rumours of her incipient kleptomania were already rife in Lulling, and Dimity knew that he had made today's errand in the hope of being able to help. He would have to tell her that he had failed in his mission, but that he hoped to try again.
The business of the will, he decided, should remain secret.
7. Preparing to Move
IT came as no surprise to anyone to find that the school house at Thrush Green had little to show in the way of additions when the school holidays began. To be sure, there was an area at the back of the house which had been marked out with pegs, and one morning in early August a lorry had backed in and deposited a load of sand.
Betty Bell remarked on it when she was at the Shoosmiths one morning, giving them what she termed 'a good turn out'.
'I'll bet my bottom dollar them poor Lesters won't be in that place before next Christmas. I thought the old people's place was taking its time, but this lot haven't even got started.'
'Well, I believe the Lesters are on holiday for a week or so,' said Isobel. 'I expect they'll chivvy things up when they return.'
'Gone to the seaside, have they?' asked Betty, turning a dining-room chair upside down and tackling the legs with a generous dab of polish.
'No. The Peak District, I think. They're touring, and Mr Lester hoped to go to the opera at Buxton.'
Betty's ministrations were arrested. 'I went to the opera once,' she said. The tone was of one recollecting a nasty session at the dentist's.
'Didn't you enjoy it, Betty?'
'No, I didn't! The noise! What with all that screeching, and the band on top of that, I had a splitting headache. I really prefer the telly—you can switch it off.'
She resumed her polishing with renewed vigour.
'So when's he hoping to move in?' she enquired somewhat breathlessly.
'I believe he hoped to move in during August,' said Harold, who was looking out of the window to the house next door.
'He'll be lucky,' commented Betty.
And Harold was inclined to agree.
But a week later, Alan Lester's car drew up outside the property and out tumbled two little girls followed, more decorously, by their parents.
Interested inhabitants of Thrush Green watched the schoolmaster unlock the front door to allow his family, some folding-chairs, several large baskets and assorted packages into the empty house.
'That looks more hopeful,' commented Harold to Isobel. He watched Alan Lester return to the car to retrieve an unwieldy bundle of brooms, a bucket, and a vacuum-cleaner.
'Don't be such a busybody,' said Isobel. 'You are as bad as the Lovelocks, peeking behind curtains.'
Harold laughed, and went into his study to write some letters. They could hear the children playing next door, exploring the playground and peering in the hedge for abandoned nests.
When it became time for mid-morning coffee, Isobel suggested that Harold might call next door to invite them over. The Lesters seemed delighted to down tools, and the four of them joined the Shoosmiths in the garden.
'I must say,' said Harold, 'that we didn't dare hope to see you quite so soon. You really have bought it, then?'
'It was a case of moving quickly,' said Alan. 'The fellow who bought my house had the ready money,
Anthony Bull's outstanding good looks, his charm of manner, and his almost theatrical delivery of his sermons, had won the hearts of all who met him. It was not surprising that Bertha Lovelock had felt such burning affection for him. She was only one of many in his congregation to whom he had brought colour and comfort.
It was also quite logical that she should wish to repay the inspiration he had given her, and to do it through the church she had always attended rather than as a direct bequest to the man himself, showed a certain delicacy of feeling, and a sense of propriety quite consistent with the attitude of the Lovelocks.
But Charles hoped sincerely that nothing would come of Bertha's alarming plans. Rumours of her incipient kleptomania were already rife in Lulling, and Dimity knew that he had made today's errand in the hope of being able to help. He would have to tell her that he had failed in his mission, but that he hoped to try again.
The business of the will, he decided, should remain secret.
7. Preparing to Move
IT came as no surprise to anyone to find that the school house at Thrush Green had little to show in the way of additions when the school holidays began. To be sure, there was an area at the back of the house which had been marked out with pegs, and one morning in early August a lorry had backed in and deposited a load of sand.
Betty Bell remarked on it when she was at the Shoosmiths one morning, giving them what she termed 'a good turn out'.
'I'll bet my bottom dollar them poor Lesters won't be in that place before next Christmas. I thought the old people's place was taking its time, but this lot haven't even got started.'
'Well, I believe the Lesters are on holiday for a week or so,' said Isobel. 'I expect they'll chivvy things up when they return.'
'Gone to the seaside, have they?' asked Betty, turning a dining-room chair upside down and tackling the legs with a generous dab of polish.
'No. The Peak District, I think. They're touring, and Mr Lester hoped to go to the opera at Buxton.'
Betty's ministrations were arrested. 'I went to the opera once,' she said. The tone was of one recollecting a nasty session at the dentist's.
'Didn't you enjoy it, Betty?'
'No, I didn't! The noise! What with all that screeching, and the band on top of that, I had a splitting headache. I really prefer the telly—you can switch it off.'
She resumed her polishing with renewed vigour.
'So when's he hoping to move in?' she enquired somewhat breathlessly.
'I believe he hoped to move in during August,' said Harold, who was looking out of the window to the house next door.
'He'll be lucky,' commented Betty.
And Harold was inclined to agree.
But a week later, Alan Lester's car drew up outside the property and out tumbled two little girls followed, more decorously, by their parents.
Interested inhabitants of Thrush Green watched the schoolmaster unlock the front door to allow his family, some folding-chairs, several large baskets and assorted packages into the empty house.
'That looks more hopeful,' commented Harold to Isobel. He watched Alan Lester return to the car to retrieve an unwieldy bundle of brooms, a bucket, and a vacuum-cleaner.
'Don't be such a busybody,' said Isobel. 'You are as bad as the Lovelocks, peeking behind curtains.'
Harold laughed, and went into his study to write some letters. They could hear the children playing next door, exploring the playground and peering in the hedge for abandoned nests.
When it became time for mid-morning coffee, Isobel suggested that Harold might call next door to invite them over. The Lesters seemed delighted to down tools, and the four of them joined the Shoosmiths in the garden.
'I must say,' said Harold, 'that we didn't dare hope to see you quite so soon. You really have bought it, then?'
'It was a case of moving quickly,' said Alan. 'The fellow who bought my house had the ready money,
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